Method of and apparatus for feeding fluids



I C OFFENHAUSER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FLUIDS,

APPLICATION FILED AUG-10, 1920.

1,400,972, Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

Z $HEETS-SHEET I.

i 6 c (MIL/N54- llllllll V ATTORNEYS Y\ C. OFFENHAUSER. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDiNG FLUIDS,

APPLICATION FILED AUG-10, 1920.

1 ,400,972. Patented. Dec. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET- 2.

0/1/ LINE-.515. FIG-L CHRISTOPHER OFFENHAUSER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

METHOD OF AND APEAR-ATUS FOR FEEDING- FLUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

Application filed August 10, 1920. Serial No. 402,585.

T 0 aZZw/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER OFFEN- HAUSER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of'Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Method of and Apparatus for Feeding Fluids, of which the following is a specification. I

In the methods heretofore employed and in the instrumentalities used in the rendering of animal and vegetable matters in order to extract the fat and oils, it is customary to subject them to the action of steam, and in order to.overcome the obnoxious odors to subject the material after the extraction has taken place to the action of sulfur dioxid. As sulfur dioxid is an active agent and has a deleterious action on the metal containers and the valve mechanism, considerable difficulty has arisen in producing a proper charge of sulfur and introducing it into the rendering mechanism.

The object of my present invention is to device a novel method and apparatus for cooling or condensing a gas and then passing it to other mechanism preferably by using steam as a carrying medium.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter more clearly appear, my invention in its broad and generic scope comprehends a novel method for introducing sulfur dioxid or other fluids into one or more containers during the passage of such container or containers through a cooling medium, and then ejecting the sulfur dioxid from such containers after they have passed through the cooling medium by injecting into the containers fluid. under pressure such as, for example, steam.

It further comprehends a novel construction of the character described which comprises a series of rotatable containers adapted to revolve in a cooling medium, with novel means for automatically introducing sulfur dioxid into such container and novel means to automatically introduce at the proper time the fluid under pressure, such as steam, into each container to e ect the sulfur dioxid therefrom and to pass it to other mechanism such as, for example, the rendering apparatus, it being of course apparent that in its broad and generic scope my invention is not limited to the use of any specific form of fluid such as sulfur dioxid or steam, as other gases may be employed and other ejecting fluids such as, forexample, compressed air or a compressed gas. It further comprehends a novel construc tion and arrangement of a casing, a novel construction and arrangement of a rotatable container, a novel construction and arrangement of valve mechanism for effecting the introduction of sulfur dioxid into the containers and for permitting at the proper tlme the discharge from said container, and also novel means for introducing into said container the ejecting fluid under pressure.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear inthe detailed description of my invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a typical embodiment which is at present preferred by me, since said embodiment will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement flIlQ organizationof these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents, in end elevation and partly in section, an apparatus for introducing a charge of sulfur dioxid or other medium to other mechanism.

Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of 1g. 3 represents a section on line 33 of 1g. 4 represents a section on line 4.4= of Flg.

*ig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 represents an end elevation of a and requirements met with in practice. The framework 1 has j ournaled in it at each side the rollers 3 which support'a left-hand bearing sleeve l and the right-hand bearing sleeve 5. The outer end of the bearing sleeve a is sealed by means of a closure 5 which is apertured to recelve a stationary shaft 6 which serves as an inlet pipe for fluid under pressure and at its outer end leads to a source of fluid supply under pressure (not shown) such as, for example, a source of steam supply. The closure 5 is provided or formed with a stufiing box Y. The inner end of the inlet pipe 6 is closed and has loosely mounted on it the hub of a disk 8 which is provided with a port 9 through its side wall.

A spring 10 is interposed between the hub of the disk 8 and the closure 5, the tendency of'such spring 10 beingto move the disk forwardly. The inlet pipe 6 is provided with a port 11 which is infree communication with the chamber 12 which latter is in free communication with the port 9, it being understood that there is always a supply 7 outlet passage 17. The fitting 14: is stationary and terminates at its inner end in an enlarged head 18 through which the passages 15 and 16 open. The bearing sleeve 5 is provided withan inclosure 19 between which and the head 18 is interposed aspring 20. The closure 19 is provided or formed with a stufiing box 21 in a similar manner to that already described with reference to theclosure 5. The outlet passage 17 communicates with a discharge pipe 22 which e leads to a desired point of utilization, for

example, a rendering apparatus. The bearing sleeve 5 at its inner end is provided with a head 23 having a series of ports 24 which at certain times 'arebroughtinto communication with the passages 16 and 17 The ports 24 communicate with passages 25 opening through the periphery of the head 23 and communicating with the pipes 26 which are in free communication with the branch pipes 27 and 28 which communicate with an end of the containers 29 and 30, respectively,

' so that the containers are arranged in pairs,

as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1. The opposite ends of the containers 29 and 30 communicate in a similar manner with branch pipes 31 which open into their respective pipes 32 which latter communicate withthe passages 33 in the head 34of the bearing sleeve 4, see more particularly Fig.

' 5. i The passages 33 communicate by means of the ports 35 at the proper time with the port 9 inthe disk 8. g

It will be seen most clearly from Fig. 4 that the passage 17, whereit opens through the head 18, forms an elongated port 36 and the passage 16 forms an elongated port 37, see also Fig. 5.

It'will be seen that the bearing sleeve at is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 38 to limit the inward movement of the disk 8. The bearing sleeve 5 is provided in a similar manner with an inwardly extending annular flange 39 coiiperating with the head 18, so that the proper joints are formed between the ports by the springs 10 and 20, although as is apparent other means may be employed for this purpose if desired.

The operation will now be apparent to those skilled in-the art and is as follows:

One of the bearing sleeves, for example, the bearing sleeve 5, is provided with a gear 40, which is adapted to be driven by any desired source of power, so that a continuous rotation is imparted to the container which as a unit consistsof the containers 29 and 30 and their adjuncts. It will be understood that fluid under pressure such as, for example, steam, is in the pipe 6, and, passing through the port 11, fills the chamber 12. The sulfur dioxid or other gas enters through the pipe 13 and is in the passage 16 so that as soon as a port 24 comes into register with the elongated port 37 the gas will. pass through a pipe 26 into a pair of containers 29 and 30, respectively. At this time there is no steam pressure in the container and the revolution of the container as a unit causes the individual containers which have been charged with sulfur dioxid to pass through the cooling medium, the sulfur dioxid b'ecomingcondensed. As soon as a port 35 comes into register with the port '9 in the disk 8, the steam is injected into the containers 29 and 30 with which the pipe 32 communicates, and the steam or other fluid under pressure causes the'sulfur dioxid or other condensed gas to pass through the pipes 26, passages 25, ports 2 1 and 36 and passage 17 into the'discha'rge pipe 2,which discharges the commingled fluid into the rendering apparatus or other desired place of utilization. v

It will be "apparent that in accordance with my present inventionthe operation is entirely automatic and successive charges of the commingled fluids can be successively produced and dischargedfrom the apparatus.

My present invention is especially adapted to be employed in conjunction with rendering apparatus in order to'overcome the obnoxious odors which are produced during the rendering operation of extracting the fats and oils from waste meats, fats, bones, offal, dead animals and other material, so that the obnoxious odors can be eliminated as fast as they are created, since a requisite amount of sulfur dioxid gas in the proper concentrated condition can be passed'into the digesters and become intimately commingled with the materials being, rendered. The sulfur dioxid also has a preserving action on the material being rendered and also has the action of bleaching the oils and fats extracted and enables one to obtain a larger percentage of fat and oil, and also reduces the time involved in drying the refuse.

It will be apparent from'the foregoing that my present invention in its broad and generic scope comprises a novel method and apparatus whereby fluid drawn from any desired source of a liquid or gaseous na ture can be passed into a receptacle or container by means of a vacuum in such receptacle and then it is discharged from such receptacle by passing into the receptacle fluid under pressure in a gaseous or liquid form. It is not essential in all cases to condense the fluid drawn into the apparatus and in many cases arising in practice this step can be dispensed with.

It will be apparent that in accordance with my present invention the fluid drawn into the mechanism by the vacuum can be of-any desired nature and can be either an active or passive agent and the nature of the fluid which is thereafter introduced into the receptacle can also be of any desired nature, but is preferably at a. suflicient pressure to cause'the discharge from the receptacle of the fluid therein contained so that it can be passed to any desired type of apparatus which is working under pressure.

I am enabled to employ gas which is more or less highly expanded and discharge it into a container Working under any desired degree of high pressure. The volatile gas which is sucked into the apparatus is commingled with another fluid, preferably a fluid under pressure, such as for example, steam, so that a charge of any desired material may be introduced into a high pressure container to treat the material in such container during the operation.

In accordance with my present invention, I introduce a heated fluid such as, for example, steam, successively into a series of containers and the temperatures in these containers is then successively reduced, as shown by passing them through a cooling medium which reduces the temperature in each container, so that as soon as the valve is opened it will place such charged containers into communication with the other fluid which latter will be drawn by suction successively into said containers and thereafter discharged therefrom by the heated fluid.

It will thus be apparent that the nature of fluids employed may vary in practiceaccording to the nature of the work which it is desired to do. I therefore desire it, to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the use of any specific fluid which is drawn into the apparatus or any specific fluid which is employed to discharge the fluid charge from the apparatus.

It will be apparent that my present invention can be employed to withdraw volatile gases or liquid from the container and in then treating such fluid with another fluid for the desired purpose.

My present invention is especially valuable where it is desired to introduce a charge of fluid with liquid or gases into a container or digester or other receptacle in which the working pressure is one hundred pounds or more.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful method of and apparatus for feeding fluids which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacriflcing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of forming a charge of condensed gas, which consists in passing the gas to be condensed into a container, passing the container through a cooling medium, and lastly injecting fluid under pressure into the container to commingle with the condensed gas and discharge it from the container.

2. The method of forming a condensed charge of sulfur, which consists in passing sulfur dioxid gas into a container, passing the container through a cooling medium to condense the sulfur, and lastly injecting fluid under pressure into the container to commingle with the condensed sulfur and eject it from the container.

3. The method of forming a condensed charge of sulfur, which consists in passing sulfur dioxid gas into a container, passing the container through a coolingmedium to condense the sulfur, and lastly injecting steam under pressure into the container to commingle with the condensed sulfur and eject it from the container.

4:. In a device of the character described, a liquid container, a plurality of gas containers rotatably mounted to pass through said liquid container during their rotation, means to pass a gas into said containers prior to their passage through the liquid container, and means to pass fluid under ressure into said gas containers to eject the condensed gas therefrom.

5. In adevice oi the character described, a liquid container adapted to receive a temperature changing medium, a series of conby said pipes, means to revolve said eontainers as a unit, a supply of fluid under pressure communicating with one of said bearing members, and valve mechanism controlling the passage of such fluid from such bearing members to the pipes communicating with one end of the container, andsaid valve mechanism also'controlling theinlet of'gas to said containers andthe outletof fluid under pressureand gas therefrom.

. 7. In a deviceof the character described, a series of containers having endbearing members provided with passages communicating with said series of containers, valve mechanism controlling admission of fluid underpressureto one of said end members, said valvemechanism also controlling admission of gas to'be condensed to and the exhaust of-fluid: and condensed gas from said containers, a liquid container into which said series of containers passes during their revolution, and means to revolve said series of containers.

8. In a device of'the character stated, a stationary pipe for introduction of fluid under pressure, a series of containers rotatably mounted thereon, a second stationary pipe on which said containers are mounted and provided with a partition forming an inlet and an outlet passage, said passages communicating with said containers during their rotation, means to automatically control the passage of fluid from said pipe to said containers, means toautomatically control the passage of gas to said containers and the discharge of fluid under pressure and gas therefrom, means to pass said containers through a cooling medium, and means to rotate said containers.

9. In a device of the character described, a series of rotatable gas containers having chambered bearings rotatably mounted, a valve within one of said chambers controlling the supply of fluid under pressure 10.- In a device of the character described,

bearing members having passages opening 7 through their periphery and at their opposite end through the side wall, pipes communicating with said passages, a series of containers with which said pipes communicate at the endsof thelatter, a valve having single port to register with the passages-of one bearing member during "the rotation. of the container, meansto rotate :said bearing members,.a valve having aplurality of ports communicating'with said passages of ithe other bearing member during'the rotation of said containers said second valve having one ofits ports serving as aninlet and its otherport serving ZLS'dJLOHtlGt, anda liquid container into which :said series of .containers'travel during their rotation.

11. In a device of the character'described, a bearing member having a chamber and a passage leading therefrom, a pipefor introducing fluid under pressure having a port communicating with said chamber, a valve looselyimounted'on said pipeand having a single port to communicate with said passage, a second bearing member having passages leading therethrough, a stationary pipe havingv a diaphragm dividing it into an inlet and an outlet passageand adapted to comm unicate with the second bearing member passages during the revolution of the second bearing member,-containers each having one end communicating with :a passage of one bearingmember and its other end communicating with a passage'of the second bearing member, means'to revolve said hearing member, anda liquid container into the liquid of which saidfirst containers pass as they are revolved by said bearing members.

12. In a device ofthe character described, a bearing member having a chamber and a passage leading therefrom, apipe'for introducing fluid underpressure havinga port communicating with-said chamber, a valve loosely mountedonsaid pipe andhaving a single port to communicate withsaid passage, a secondbearing member having passages leading =therethrou-gh, a stationary pipe having ,a diaphragm dividing it into an inlet and an outlet passage and adapted to communicate with the second bearing member passages during the revolution of the second bearing member, containers each having one end communicating with a passage of one bearing member and its other end communicating with a passage of the second bearing member, means to revolve said bearing member, a liquid container into the liquid of which said first containers pass as they are revolved by said bearing memhers, and resilient means to retain said hearing members in proper position on said pipe.

13. The method of creating a fluid charge and introducing it into a mechanism working under high pressure, which consists in passing a heated gas into a receptacle, reducing the temperature of the heated gas in said receptacle by moving the receptacle through a cooling medium and then placing the receptacle in communication with a source of supply of other fluid, whereby such other fluid is drawn into the receptacle and lastly discharging the fluid and condensed gas from the receptacle.

let. The method of creating a fluid charge and introducing it into mechanism working under high pressure, which consists in causing a fluid to be drawn into a receptacle by vacuum, moving the receptacle through a cooling medium and then inserting into said receptacle a fluid under pressure to effect the discharge of the first fluid.

15. The method of creating a fluid charge and introducing it into a container working under high pressure, which consists in drawing a definite quantity of fluid into a receptacle by means of a vacuum in said receptacle, moving the receptacle through a cool" ing medium, and passing a fluid under res sure into said receptacle to eject the fluids from said receptacle.

16. The method of feeding fluids, which consists in withdrawing a charge of fluid from a source of supply by means of a vacuum, passing the charge through a cooling medium, and then eifecting the dis cl'iarge under pressure of such fluid charge.

CHRISTOPHER OFFENHAUSER.

lVitnesses:

H. S. FAIRBANKS, E. LEAH FARLEY. 

